Filter unit, liquid ejecting apparatus, and maintenance method for liquid ejecting head

Abstract

Provided is a filter unit used in a posture in which a gravity direction and a virtual plane extending along a filter intersect each other, the filter unit including the filter, a filter chamber that includes an upstream chamber and a downstream chamber separated by the filter, an inlet for introduction of liquid, and an outlet through which the liquid flows out via the downstream chamber. The inlet is open in a second direction that intersects a first direction perpendicular to the virtual plane extending along the filter, the outlet is open in a third direction opposite to the second direction, and the inlet overlaps with the outlet as seen in the third direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A filter unit used in a posture in which a gravity direction and a virtual plane extending along a filter intersect each other, the filter unit comprising:
 the filter;   a filter chamber including an upstream chamber and a downstream chamber separated by the filter;   an inlet for introduction of liquid from an outside of the filter unit; and   an outlet through which the liquid in the filter chamber flows out to the outside of the filter unit via the downstream chamber, wherein   the inlet is open in a second direction that intersects a first direction perpendicular to the virtual plane extending along the filter,   the outlet is open in a third direction opposite to the second direction, and   the inlet overlaps with the outlet as seen in the third direction.   
     
     
         2 . The filter unit according to  claim 1 , wherein
 a virtual center line that passes through a center of the inlet and that extends in the third direction passes through a center of the outlet.   
     
     
         3 . The filter unit according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the inlet overlaps with the filter chamber as seen in the third direction.   
     
     
         4 . The filter unit according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the inlet overlaps with the upstream chamber as seen in the third direction.   
     
     
         5 . The filter unit according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an outflow port through which the liquid flows out from the downstream chamber, wherein   the outflow port is open in the first direction.   
     
     
         6 . The filter unit according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the inlet is disposed at a central portion of the filter unit in a direction orthogonal to the second direction.   
     
     
         7 . A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising:
 a liquid ejecting head configured to eject liquid;   a liquid storage portion that stores the liquid to be supplied to the liquid ejecting head; and   the filter unit according to  claim 1 , the filter unit being disposed at an intermediate portion of a supply flow path for supply of the liquid from the liquid storage portion to the liquid ejecting head.   
     
     
         8 . The liquid ejecting apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein
 the second direction is a direction intersecting the gravity direction.   
     
     
         9 . A maintenance method for a liquid ejecting head that includes a plurality of nozzles for ejection of liquid supplied from a filter chamber including an upstream chamber and a downstream chamber separated by a filter, the maintenance method comprising:
 performing a printing operation in which the liquid ejecting head ejects the liquid to a medium with the filter chamber being in a first posture in which a lower surface of the filter that defines the downstream chamber faces a gravity direction; and   performing maintenance in which the liquid is discharged to an outside from the plurality of nozzles via the filter chamber with the filter chamber being in a second posture in which the lower surface faces a direction opposite to the gravity direction.